NBA

Nets rewind: Getting fat before the schedule toughens

Here are three thoughts on the Nets’ 103-94 win over the Grizzlies Wednesday night:

1. Since their blowout loss in Portland last Wednesday, the Nets have been utterly dominant.

Over the past four games, the Nets have led wire-to-wire in three – including the last two wins over Chicago and Memphis, perhaps their most impressive back-to-back performances of the season – and trailed for all of 157 seconds in the first quarter of Saturday’s win in Milwaukee.

Since going ahead with 4:04 to go in the first quarter Saturday, the Nets haven’t trailed – a span of 136 minutes and four seconds of game action. Over their last four games, the Nets have led for 189 minutes and three seconds out of a possible 192 minutes, an incredible stretch of dominance.

After their next two games against the lowly Celtics in Boston Friday and then at home against the Kings Sunday, the toughest remaining stretch begins next Monday at home against Toronto, kicking off four straight games against teams over .500 – though there are only seven among the final 23 games left.

Nothing will be satisfactory for the Nets heading into Monday’s showdown with the Raptors short of owning a six-game winning streak.

2. For the second time in three games, Marcus Thornton showed what he’s capable of. Thornton kept the Nets in the lead when they faltered in the second quarter, scoring 15 straight points to help push a lead that had dropped to four midway through the second – after swelling to as much as 21 late in the first – back to double digits at halftime.

With Alan Anderson’s February struggles continuing into March – he’s shooting 28.9 percent from 3-point range since Feb. 1, which is going back 15 games – coach Jason Kidd has given Thornton a chance to prove himself, and he’s taking advantage. It’s also been interesting to see Kidd immediately shift the focus to Thornton’s defense every time he’s asked about him, including after Wednesday’s game (let’s just say defense has never been Thornton’s strong suit).

Thornton’s going to get chances to continue proving himself.

3. Speaking of hot shooting guards, Joe Johnson appears to have his groove back.

After spending the last several weeks struggling with his shot following his mid-January burst, Johnson has scored a combined 40 points in the past two games, including 21 points on 8-for-13 shooting – including 5-for-7 from 3-point range – against Memphis.

After getting through several weeks of dealing with tendinitis in his right knee and then a jammed finger on his shooting hand, being healthy will likely fix a lot of his ills.